Electrical ignition apparatus



Nov. 4 1924. A 1,513,877

B. AMES ELECTRICAL IGNITION APPARATUS Filed June 20. 1919 2 Sheets$heet l fiwenioi' fizzizer 62777 0 5 M 9 W his ai'f yi NOV. 4 I I B. AMES ELECTRICAL IGNITION APPARATUS ets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

BUTLER AMES, 0F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL IGNITION APPARATUS.

Application filed June 20, 1919.

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, BUTLER Aiuns, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Ig nition Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical ignition apparatu and more particularly to an apparatus which comprises a current reversing commutator, a circuit closer and interrupter, and a distributor assembled in a unitary structure.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an ignition apparatus which is, simple and reliabl in construction, which has its stationary parts moulded into a unitary mass of insulating composition, which has a current commutator of cylindrical design, and which has brush holders having connection terminals formed integrally therewith and embedded in the insulating composition which forms the body of the appa- In one aspect the invention consists in providing an ignition apparatus the fixed parts of which are moulded into plastic insulating material. The apparatus is preferably assembled in two sections, a supporting or casrates. l loulded in the casing are brush holders carrying brushes which conduct current to and from the commutator. The commutator and brushes are thus held in proper assembled relation to each other by the moulded casing without the use of bolts, screws or other attaching means.

In another aspect the invention consists in providing a cylindrical commutator for rapidly reversing the direction of current flow through the circuit making and breaking contacts thus providing that both contacts shall wear or pit evenly. The commu- Scrial No. 305,518.

tator, being cylindrical, provideslarge current conducting segments and yet is compact so that it is embraced within the casing wit rout materially increasing the size thereof and alfords an arrangement of the brushes which renders them easily accessible.

In still another aspect the invention con sists in forming the brush-holder bushings with terminal posts formed integrally therewith and extending at an angle therefrom upwardly through the body of the casing and provided at their upper ends with means by which circuit connections may be made therewith.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a side elevation of my improved ignition apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the cover removed and the interrupter contacts in circuit closing position;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the cover and distributor arm removed and the interrupter contacts in normal position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 77 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a diagram of circuit connections.

IVhile in Figs. 1 and 6 the apparatus has been shown for convenience of illustration with its axis horizontal, it is to be understood that the apparatus is to be installed with its axis vertical.

The embodiment of my invention shown for the purpose of illustration comprises a moulded support 1 of insulation such as bakelite, condensite or other suitable material provided with a hollow moulded cover 2 of the same material. The casing 1 is chanr bored out as at 3 and is provided at its lower end with a tube 4: knurled as at 5 and moulded into the casing 1.

The tube 4 is provided with a circimiten ential groove 6, and serves as a means by which the casing l is held in an upright position, but free to be oscillated by means engaging in the terruled opening 82 for the purpose of advancing or retarding the spark as is customary in such apparatus. Tube 4- is also provided with a drilled opening 7, the purpose of which will appear later. 7 7

Located axially in the casing 1 and moulded therein is a tubular bearing num her 8, extending downwardly into the chamber 3. Rotatably mounted on the bearing 8 is a. sleeve 9, provided at its inner end with a cylindrical reduced portion 10, forming a shoulder at 11. The outer end of the sleeve 9 is bored out as at 12 to receive the drivingshaft 13 which is secured therein by suitable. means as by the set screw 1%.-

Mounted upon the reduced portion 19 of the sleeve 9, and insulated therefrom is a circuit reversing commutator 15. This commutator is of the well-known cylindrical type comprising two T-shaped conducting segments 16 and 17 insulated from each other and from the sleeve 9 by insulation 18. Preferably the commutator segments 16 and 17 are moulded into the insulating material 18, the insulation material used, being condensite, hitensite or other suitable composition. To prevent relative movement between the segments and the moulded insulav tion 18, holes 19 are drilled into the ends of the commutator between the insulation and the segments, in which pins 20 are in serted.

Slidably mounted in the casing 1 and cooperating with the commutator 15, as shown most clearly in Figures 7 and 8, are four brushes 21, 22, 23 and 2-1. Each of the brushes is rectangular in cross section and slides through a bushing, such as 24:, shown in sect-ion in Figure 6, having a rectangular orifice 25, and moulded into the casing 1. The bushing 24 is internally threaded at 26 to receive the threaded thinl le 27 of the brush-holder cap 28., The cap 28 is moulded around the thimble 27, from suit able insulating material and fluted on its exterior as shown at 29, for, the purpose of aflording'a better finger hold. Spring 30, enclosed within the thimble 27, bears against the end of brush 21 to urge the brush against the commutator 16. r

The bushings 2 1 and 31, are provided with posts 32 and 33 respectively, extending upwardly through the upper surface 3% of using 1, which have openings 35 at their upper ends, in which cable terminals 36, 37may be clamped by screws 38, 39, as shown in Figure 3, the casing 1 being provided with an opening 81 therein through which the cables may pass. The brushes 21 and 22, which are carried these bushings engage the end ring portions of the commutator and'serve'to conduct current from the battery supply terminals 36, 37 through 7 posts 32, 33 and bushings 24, 31 to the commutate-r.

. The brushes 23 and 24 are similarly supported in bushings t0 and d1 respectively, shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. These bushings are cast with vertical posts 4:2, 13 provided with lateral offset arms 14, 15, em-

bedded in the upper portion of the casing, the arms having threaded openings at their free ends. In alinement with the openings in the arms at, 45, holes are provided through the casing through which bolts 46, 47 pass, these bolts threaded through the openings in arms 44, and threaded into openings in lugs and which support the contact terminals of a circuit breaking mechanism, hereinafter described. In this manner the lugs and 60 are firmly se cured to the upper face 3st of the casingin electrical connection with the brushes 23 and Journaled within the bearing 8 and coupled to the sleeve 9 by set screw 48, which may be inserted through the opening 7 hereinbefore referred to, is a. spindle 19 which carries a. circuit interrupter cam wheel 50 upon its upper end. The cam wheel is formed integrally with the spindle and lies adjacent to face 3% of the casing. Upon the cam wheel 50 are teeth 51 which are adapted tocooperate with a dog 52, pivoted to thecasing by a screw 53. The dog normally rests against a spring plunger stop 54, as shown in Figure at.

Secured to the offset arm 15, by bolt 17, is a lug 55, to which a. leaf spring 56 is-fastened by screw 57. Riveted to the free end of the .pring 56 is a contact spring 58 and a hooked spring 59, the hooked end of spring 59 being normally in engagement with the end of spring 58 and holding spring 58 under slight tension. Connected to arm tshby bolt 46, is a lug 60 within which a contact 61 is secured by nut 62. This contact 61 cooperates with spring contact 58, the contact 58 being normally out of engagementtherewith as shown in Figure 4.

Mounted upon the upper end of spindle 49 above the cam 50. is a distributor arm 63 of insulating material, keyed to the. spindle by the flat surface 6 1 on the spindle. the arm 63 is a conducting segment 65, se' cured to the arm by a depressed loop 66, stamped therefrom and embedded in the arm 63.. i V

The cover 2 hereinbefore referred to is substantially semi-spherical in shape and rests in the peripheral groove 67 in the'top face of the casing 1 and encloses thecontact. mechanismand distributor arm. This cover is retained in position by two spring clips 68, pivoted to the casing by pins 69, passing through ears 7 Omoulded to sides of the casing. These spring clips engage-depths sions 71 int-he sides ofthe cover in such a manner that they hold the cover securely 'upon the casing when the elips'are snapped into place.

j'ecting upwardly therefrom are five -substantially cylindrical apertured bosses, one 72 disposed at the center of the cover and the remaining bosses, 7 3, symmetrically disposed around its edge. The boss 72 is provided with a cable terminal 7a embedded therein, the terminal being chambered at 75 to receive a spring pressed contactor 76. This contactor is adapted to engage the distributor segment 65 at a point in the axis of the spindle L9 and makes electrical contact therewith. A spring 77 also enclosed in the chamber 7 5 of terminal 74 urges the contactor against the segment 65.

Embedded in bosses 73 are cable terminals 78, each provided at its lower end with a distributor point 79 with which the distributor segment 65 is adapted to cooperate. The terminal 74 and terminals 78 are all provided at their upper ends with tapered threaded terminals 80, to which cables leading to the engine cylinders may be connected. To attach a cable to one of these terminals, it is simply necessary to insert the end of the cable into the boss, and turn it about on the threaded terminal, the pointed end of the terminal entering the center of the cable and the threads drawing the cable into the boss. The strands of the cable thus entwine about the thread of the terminal and make a secure electrical connection. In Figure 1 cables have been shown secured in the terminal bosses. I

In Figure 8 a diagram of the circuit connections is illustrated. The primary circuit extends from the battery B through conductor 36, terminal 33, brush 21, segment 17 of the commutator, brush 23, contact 61, contact 58, brush 2 1, segment 16, brush 22, terminal 82, conductor 37, the primary of induction coil P and conductor 8% to the other terminal of battery B. The secondary circuit extends from ground G through the secondary coil S, through terminal 7 6, distributor segment 65, through one of the cable terminals 79 and ground at one of the customary spark plugs.

In operation, the shaft 13 is driven by any suitable connection with the engine which rotates the shaft at a speed bearing a proper ratio to the engine speed. The shaft in rotating carries with it the commutator 15 and the interrupter cam 50. As the cam rotates a tooth 51 thereof engages the free end of dog 52 moving it from its resting position in contact with rest 5%, as shown in Figure 4, to the position shown in Figure 3. Such movement of dog 52 presses the hooked spring arm 59 toward the left as viewed in Figure 4, until contact arm 58 engages the stationary contact 61, when the primary circuit from battery through the commutator 15 and primary coil of the induction coil P, traced hereinbefore is closed.

Continued rotation of the cam wheel 50 presses the hooked end of spring 59 out of contact with contact arm 58. A moment later the rotation of the cam carries tooth 51 out of engagement with dog 52, when the resiliency of spring 59 causes it to snap back to its normal position with dog 52 again resting against stop 54. In moving to normal position the hooked end of spring 59 again engages the end of spring 58 snapping it quickly out of contact with contact 61, thus breaking the primary circuit. The stop 5%- being provided with a spring plunger cushions the dog 52 to restrain it from rebounding. v

The quick breaking of the primary circuit induces a heavy surge of current in the secondary coil S of the induction coil, through the distributor arm and a point 79 to the spark plug of one of the engine cylinders. lVhen the cam 50 has rotated another quarter revolution another closure and interruption of the circuit occurs, but as distributor arm 65 has also rotated through a quarter of a revolution the secondary circuit is closed through another point 79 and to the spark plug of another cylinder. Thus during a complete revolution of the spindle 4.9 the cam 50 closes and opens the primary circuit four times and the distributor arm 65 closes the secondary circuit through the four spark plugs of the engine cylinders in rotation.

During a complete revolution of the spindle 49, the commutator reverses the direction of current flow in the primary circuit twice, thus current flows through contacts 58, 61 half of the time in one direction and half of the time in the opposite direction and any tendency of the contact points to pit due to sparks produced at the opening of the contacts will be equally distributed over both contacts.

I claim:

1. In an ignition apparatus, a chambered casing moulded from plastic insulating material, a journal therein, a spindle mounted in said ournal, a cylindrical commutator on said spindle and within said chambered casing, and a circuit interrupter operated by said spindle including a plurality of actuating members carried by the spindle and adapted to intermittently close an electric circuit.

2. In an. ignition apparatus, a chambered casing moulded from plastic insulating material, said chamber being open at its lower end, a journal therein. a spindle mounted in said journal, a cylindrical commutator on said spindle and within said chamber, and a supporting ferrule surrounding the lower portion of said casing and moulded therein.

3. In an ignition apparatus, a supporting casing moulded from insulating material, a journal therein, a spindle mounted in said journal, a commutator on said spindle, brush-holders in said casing, brushes in said holders for co-operation with said commu- V in tator, and terminal posts secured to saidbrusheholders, said ournal and brush-hold V ers and posts loemg moulded 1n sa1d-cas1ng.-

7 fl. In an ignition apparatus, a chambered casing moulded from insulating material, a journal therein, a spindle mounted in said'journal, a cylindrical commutator on said spindle and within said chamber, I -brush-lrolders in said casing, brushes in said holders for co-operation with said commutator, and terminal posts secured to saidbrush-holders said journal and brush-holders and posts being moulded in said casing.

5. 111 an ignition apparatus having a circuit reversing commutator and brushes cooperating therewith, the combination of holders 'for said brushes, and terminal posts formed integrally therewith and extending at an angle therefrom.

6. In an ignition apparatus having a cir-' cult reversing commutator and brushes cooperating therewith, the combination of holders for said brush-es, and terminal posts ,.for1ned integrally therewith and extending. at right angles therefrom.

7 In an ign portlng casing of insulating material, @7011- cuit reversing commutator and brushes cooperating with the commutator, the combi-' holders for said brushes, and terminal posts formed integrally therewith and extendingat an angle therefrom upwardly through the top of said casing.

9. In an ignition apparatus, a casing, a spindle journaled therein, and a distributor arm on said spindle, said distributor arm comprising an insulating support keyed to said spindle and a terminal mounted in a groove in the face of said support secured to said support by a depressed portion embedded in said'support, said-depressed portion being intermediate the substantially coplanar ends of said terminal; V

10. In an ignition apparatus,- a distriloutor comprising a journaled supporting arm" at moulded insulating material, and a ter- *dial'ly -spaced"-fronr said axis. Signed by meat- Boston, l\Iass., this 16th dayof June,- l-919.

minal formed avith an offset loop portion,

said terminal being uncovered by saicl"1na-" terial andsaidloopbeing embeddedjin said armforsecuring said t-erminal to said arm.- 11. In an ignition apparatus, a support-' ion apparatus having a sup ing member of moulded insulating material,

*and a contact inember formed with an offset loo-p port-ion', said contact-member being-r seated in a recess along onew-face'of said support member and said loop being embedded in said'suppo-rting member-for securing'said contact member thereto.

terial, a journal embedded-therein, a spindle mounted in said journal, a cylindrical commutator on said spindle and WllllllIl' said chamber, brush-holders embedded in said casing, brushes in said holders i for co -operation Withsaid commutator, terminal posts secured to said brush-ho-lders'and extending upwardly through s'aid'casing, circuit interruptingcontacts mounted on the ends of said posts, and a contact actuator carriedby said spindle.

12. In 3 an ignition apparatus, a charmbered casing moulded from insulating ma 18. In an ignition apparatus, a casing moulded -from'insulating material, an upwardlyextending terminal post embedded therein, an oliset arm on said post provided with a threaded opening, a contact lug positioned on the upper surface of said casing and a" screw passing upwardly through said opening and into said lug for securing said lug to said post;

14. In an ignition apparatus, a casing moulded from insulating material, upwardly extending terminal posts embedded therein, oii'set arms on said posts provided with threaded openings, contact carrying lugs positioned on the upper surface of said casing and screws passing upwardly through said casing through said'openings and into said lugs for securing said lugs to said posts.

15. In an ignition apparatus, a casing moulded-from insulating material, upwardly extending terminal postsembedded therein, certain-of said postsbeing provided at their upper ends with cable attaching means,

and "circuit- *interruptin g contacts mounted BUrLEn JaMEs; 

